Chapter Four
I sucked in a sharp breath, snatching the note out from under the mat.
So, not only did he know where I lived—he’d been here. He stood on my doorstep. Placed this letter under the mat with his own hands. The thought sent an icy chill slithering down my spine.
My hands shook as I unfolded the note, my breath shallow, eyes almost unwilling to read what he’d written.
Dear Scarlett,
I watched you for so long. Wanting and waiting.
Then that day came.
You let me in. You took me so well, princess.
You shook beneath me as I stretched you open.
I can still feel you. Thrumming. Shaking.
Your fear lingers, buried deep in your bones. But we both know the truth.
You’re mine.
And I’ll have you again.
Every inch of you.
My throat tightened, a pulse of ice slicing through my chest as I stood there, gaping. A quick glance to the street. Nothing. No figure in the shadows, no rustle in the bushes. Nothing had changed.
But everything felt different.
With a sharp huff, I stormed inside, tossing the flowers onto the kitchen table so hard their petals scattered.
Fuck him.
My blood simmered with rage, but my hands still shook.
I snatched a glass from the cupboard, filled it with ice water and drank deep, trying to cool the fire burning inside me.
Think.
What now?
He’d sent this after Emma’s text. After I told him to leave me the fuck alone.
So he wasn’t scared off.
He didn’t believe I’d report him.
But I would. I had to.
Not for this—flowers and notes were child’s play. But if he came near me… I’d dial that number faster than he could imagine.
I set the glass down with a sharp clink.
But then, a thought slipped in, unwelcome, unshakable.
Weren’t you just fantasizing about him?
Less than an hour ago? Almost picking up your phone?
I clenched my jaw, my breath unsteady.
That wasn’t my rational brain. That was something else. Something dangerous.
And I would never, ever, let myself act on it.
Adrian had shown his true colors time and time again. This wasn’t me reaching for him. This was him coming for me. Telling me I had no choice.
I forced my breath to steady, willed my pulse to slow. He wouldn’t try again. He’s just trying to scare me. He’s angry. Angry that I rejected him. He probably thought I’d be begging for more after last time.
I scoffed, rolling my eyes.
He doesn’t know me at all. I was stronger than he realized.
He’ll leave me alone now.
Once he sees I mean it. That I really, truly want nothing to do with him. I have a life. A wonderful life, with an amazing guy in it.
I clenched my fists, my jaw tightening. And hadn’t he already taken what he wanted? What he’d longed for all those years. He forced me to do those filthy, degrading things. I did it. Enough was enough.
But a traitorous pulse of heat ran through me at the memory—his intense gaze, the snap of his waistband, the sight of his throbbing cock…
Stop.
I had to get out, shake him from my mind. I grabbed my phone, keys, and yanked a red hoodie off the banister, zipping it up in a rush. The sun was bright, but the bite of winter still lingered in the air. I slammed the door shut behind me and took off.
With my earbuds in, I started a light jog, heading for the track. The late afternoon air was crisp and refreshing. Just what I needed. My ponytail bounced as I picked up speed, thoughts clearing as my feet pounded the pavement in time with the music.
The track was empty. Perfect.
I lost myself in the movement, my heart picking up a steady rhythm as I ran. For the first time all day, my mind felt clear. No notes, no threats. No Adrian. Just the crisp air, the steady pound of my feet against the pavement.
My thoughts drifted to Ryan. His easy smile, the warmth in his voice when he called me beautiful. He wanted to take me out this weekend. Could I? He was sweet. Kind. The type of guy I should want.
But my body was hungry now.
Now that I’d had Adrian.
I wasn’t sure I could handle another chaste goodnight at my doorstep. Not after everything. This time, I’d pull Ryan inside. Wrap my arms around him. Kiss him hard and not stop. Tear his clothes off—
I exhaled sharply, wiping the sweat from my brow.
My eyes drifted toward the bleachers. I pictured myself sitting there in high school, sketchpad on my lap. What if I’d never looked up? Never caught Adrian’s eye.
I stumbled slightly and bent down to re-tie my laces.
Standing back up, I readied myself to resume my run.
But a flicker of movement caught the edge of my vision.
My head snapped to the bleachers.
Someone was there.
A figure sat alone, watching me.
I froze.
Dark hair. A black hoodie under a leather jacket, unzipped just enough to hint at the strong muscles beneath. Faded jeans. He wasn’t here to workout.
He was here for one reason.
Me.
A chill raced down my spine. How did he know I’d come here?
Maybe he didn’t. Maybe this was just a coincidence—
Adrian tilted his head, smirking. A slow, deliberate dare.
No. He knew.
I shouldn’t run. Running meant giving him exactly what he wanted. The chase. The thrill of catching me.
But standing still was even worse.
Waiting. Letting him close in.
Letting him decide what happened next.
I had seconds to decide.
My body moved before my mind could stop it.
I bolted—toward the woods.
The track blurred beneath me as I sprinted for the trail, my heart hammering in my chest. I knew this path by heart. The shortcut through the woods that led straight to my street.
I was fast—faster than him.
I had to be.
Adrian looked like he lived in a weight room, not on a track. I had a head start. I could really do this.
I’d make it home, call the police. Tell them a crazy man was after me. Tell them everything he’d done.
The thought sent a surge of adrenaline through me and I darted faster.
Pavement gave way to dirt and jutting roots. The trail was narrow and unforgiving, twisting along the river.
Risky. But possible.
I glanced back.
Adrians eyes gleamed, his wicked smile spreading.
He walked.
Walked.
Not even trying to catch up. But I knew better than to be lulled into a false sense of security.
I ran harder.
The path blurred beneath me, my lungs burning, my heartbeat a frantic drum in my ears as I maneuvered through the trees.
I risked another glance.
My stomach dropped.
He’d started jogging.
And he was closer than I’d expected.
How?
How had he gained on me so fast?
Fear surged as I snapped my gaze forward, leaping over roots, dodging branches. Up ahead, the trail veered dangerously close to the riverbank, the ground uneven and treacherous. My breath came in short, ragged bursts, the cold air burning my throat. I slowed for just a second, steadying my footing.
Another glance back.
He was gaining.
So close, I could hear his breathing.
Steady. Unrushed. Like he knew he would catch up.
His pace was relentless.
Panic clawed at my chest. He was going to catch me. My footing faltered as the ground sloped downward. I bit back a curse, fighting for balance as I sidestepped the narrow section of the trail. My gaze flicked downward.
The river twisted below, dark and merciless. I sucked in a breath, forcing myself to focus.
Finally, the path widened.
I surged forward, my muscles burning with the effort.
Just ahead, an opening in the trees revealed my street, and my heart lifted. I was almost there.
Just a few more steps, and I’d be in the safety of an open space. Practically at my doorstep.
So close.
But then—
A hand wrapped around my waist, yanking me backward.
I gasped, my feet leaving the ground as an iron grip locked around me.
No—
He spun me, my back slamming hard against a rough tree. The bark scraped my skin. A hand pressed to my shoulder, pinning me in place.
“Fuck,” I gasped, the air forced from my lungs.
Adrian loomed over me, his chest heaving, his eyes dark and dangerous. Heat radiated off him, and for a moment, I was too stunned to move.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he growled, his voice low and sharp.
I twisted in his hold, thrashing uselessly against his strength.
“Let me go,” I yelped, breathless. “I’m not yours!”
His jaw clenched, his gaze locked onto mine with a quiet, simmering fury.
“That was incredibly stupid,” he snapped. “You knew I’d catch you. And you knew how dangerous it was to run so fast in here, so close to the river.”
He leaned in, his face inches from mine.
“Don’t ever do that again.”
I swallowed hard, my eyes darting downward. His stance was wide, braced. Maybe, just maybe, I could knee him in the groin and make a run for it again while he writhed in pain. I shifted slightly, my thigh tensing—
His hand shot out, gripping my leg before I could strike, freezing me in place.
“Don’t you fucking dare,” he snarled, his fingers digging into my thigh. “You don’t want to hurt the very thing that’s going to make you scream later.”
A slow, cruel smile curved at his lips as he reached for my hoodie. I sucked in a breath, heart hammering.
One sharp tug, and the zipper was down, the sound sharp in the charged silence. His gaze dipped to my cleavage, slow and assessing.
A dark nod followed, the corner of his lip twitching in approval.
“Very nice,” he sneered, his voice thick with lust.
But his eyes told me a look wasn’t enough. His fingers brushed my bare midriff, trailing upward with an unhurried precision that left my skin tingling.
I gasped, a flash of heat rushing through me—an unwelcome, traitorous thrill.
His fingers slipped beneath the elastic of my sports bra, cupping my breast like he owned it. He let out a low moan, his eyes slipping shut for a moment, savoring the feel of me. Then his thumb grazed my nipple, and the sensation shot through me like lightning. I bit my lip, stifling the whimper that threatened to escape.
“You like that, don’t you baby?” he murmured.
I gritted my teeth, forcing resolve. “How can you think I’ll let you take whatever you want?” I spat, breathless.
His smile grew darker, more menacing. “I told you… I get what I want.” His fingers traced my body, sending electric pulses racing across my skin. “I don’t care if you ‘let me.’”
His other hand slid up the back of my sweatshirt, tugging the hood over my head with a mocking tenderness. He framed my face with the drawstrings, chuckling to himself as his piercing gaze locked onto mine.
“Are you afraid of me, little girl?” His voice was a low, taunting drawl.
“Little Red Riding Hood, all alone in the woods with the big bad wolf.” His eyes roamed over my body, hungry—like he was ready to devour me whole. He licked his lips.
“Sorry, Little Red,” he said, his voice dripping with amusement. “You won’t make it to Grandmother’s house.”
I stiffened.
Did he know I lived in my grandmother’s old house? Or was this all part of his sick fantasy?
His hands landed on my shoulders, firm and unyielding. In one smooth motion, he turned me around, positioning me exactly where he wanted.
“Walk,” he commanded.
My pulse lurched.
“Where are we going?” I breathed, my voice unsteady, my heart pounding against my ribs.
“Don’t worry about that,” he said, pressing me forward. My movements were clumsy with him directly behind me, his feet practically on my heels. He guided me off the path, deeper into the woods, until we reached a small clearing. The trees stretched high, pines thick and endless, swallowing the last hints of daylight.
The path was gone. Like it had never been there at all.
It was hard to believe we were still in town.
“What are you going to do?” My voice trembled, barely above a whisper.
My hands shook at my sides as he finally released my shoulders from his tight grip.
The corner of his lip curled, his gaze dragging over me, slow and assessing.
“You’re faster than I expected,” he murmured. “Impressive. Tell you what.” He rubbed his jaw between his finger and thumb, casual, like he had all the time in the world.
“I’ll give you a ten-second head start.”
I froze.
He sneered.
“You want to run from me so bad? If you can get away—make it back to your house—you win. I’ll leave you alone.”
He paused a beat.
“For today.”
My eyes welled up. “It’s getting dark,” I whispered, my breath catching. “I don’t want to get lost in the woods at night.”
“Why not?” he questioned, tilting his head, amusement written all over his face. “Afraid of the creatures out here?”
He stepped closer, his presence thick, suffocating. “Or maybe…” he leaned in, his breath warm against my skin, “the most dangerous predator already has you in his grasp. Ready to destroy you.”
A shudder ripped through me.
He was right.
There was nothing I feared more than him. His note flashed through my mind, the thought of him taking me, here in the woods. Taking every part of me. A chill snaked down my spine. I had to at least try to escape.
“Yes.”
The word barely left my lips, trembling, fragile. “I’ll run.”
My jaw set, determination flickering in my eyes as I met his gaze.
His lips curved, slow and knowing.
“Brave girl.”
Then, he covered his eyes with his hands, and began to count. “Ten…nine…”
Fuck.
I stumbled backward, my pulse thundering in my ears.
Turn. Move. Now.
I spun, getting my bearings.
The path was straight ahead. I could make it. I launched forward, my feet pounding against the ground, hurdling over roots, dodging branches.
The path came into view—closer, almost within reach.
Adrenaline flooded my veins, a wildfire surging through me. I practically threw myself onto it.
But it was futile. Adrian was faster. So much faster. His body slammed into mine, tackling me to the ground. A choked gasp escaped me, my breath crushed from my lungs.
His weight pressed into me, inescapable.
His chest heaving, mine heaving.
His breath was warm against my ear, his voice almost tender.
“Sorry, baby,” he cooed, “You were so close.”
His finger trailed down my cheek, a mockery of gentleness.
“You almost got away.”
A wave of ice slid down my back, locking me in place.
I bit my lip, fighting the tremble.
The sharp clink of metal sent a shock through my system.
No.
His belt.
With one arm he held his body up, pinning me effortlessly beneath him. The other hand seamlessly worked his jeans.
My ass pressed into his groin, heat radiating through the thick denim.
A single tear rolled down my cheek as the realization spread.
I was his.
His to do whatever he wanted with. He was going to take me right here, on the forest floor.
“Turn over,” he hissed, his voice thick with hunger.
“I want you to look at me.”
He pulled off his jacket, unzipped his hoodie, placing it under me as I turned, the movement surprisingly gentle. Deceptively so.
“Don’t want you to get cold,” he explained.
“How sweet of you,” I spat, my pulse still racing wildly from the exertion. Between the adrenaline coursing through my body and the rage burning through me, I was anything but cold. My eyes met his with defiance. I wanted him to see it. To know I didn’t want this. That this was all against my will.
Yet my pussy throbbed, excitement coiling in my core, anticipation simmering. My body was a fucking traitor.
His gaze dragged over my face, unreadable and intense.
“So beautiful,” he murmured, stroking my cheek with the back of his fingers in a featherlight touch. His lips were slightly parted, his face flushed from the run. And his eyes—dangerous, dark, yet somehow soulful—bored into mine as if searching for something deeper.
Something I refused to give him.
Looking at him for too long stirred feelings I didn’t want to acknowledge. A heat I couldn’t afford to feel. I forced my gaze away, summoning the anger I desperately needed to keep the storm of emotions at bay. He was about to take everything from me. I needed to hate him.
He slipped his jeans down past his knees, revealing the full length of his arousal. He knelt before me, his cock hard in his hand. He stroked it, fire burning in his eyes as he looked me over.
I was trapped tight between his powerful thighs. Pinned down. Even if I could move—what was the use? If I ran, he’d catch me again. He always would. He was a predator.
And I was just a weak little doe.
A shiver coiled through me as he stroked himself, his gaze locked onto mine.
“Do you like fairy tales, little girl?” His voice was almost gentle, laced with dark amusement.
My breath hitched.
His lips curled into a mock pout, his condescension hitting me like a slap.
“I’m sorry this one doesn’t have a happy ending. At least… not for you.”
My stomach tightened.
“Unless, of course…” He sighed, as if indulging some cruel thought. “You end up liking it.”
His lip twitched, a half-smile forming. It was too knowing, too confident. Rage flared hot in my chest. I hated that he saw right through me.
“This time,” he murmured, gripping himself tighter, stroking slowly, savoring the moment. “The wolf gets his prize.”
A slow, primal thrill coursed through my body.
Not fear. Something worse.
Anticipation.
I willed my arm to move, to strike him, scratch him, anything.
But he felt it, sensed the shift before I’d even moved.
His grip at my thighs tightened—wordless and warning.
I froze.
His smirk deepened.
“Sorry, princess.” His voice was low, almost soothing. “You’re stuck.”
A shudder rippled through me as he yanked my yoga pants down past my knees in one rough motion. A growl rumbled deep in his chest as he hooked a finger under my thong, dragging it to the side and baring me to the cool night air.
His breath hitched. Then—another sound. A guttural, satisfied hum as his finger traced the softness of my lower belly, trailing downward toward my clit.
“No,” he hissed, stopping just before reaching my most sensitive spot. “I’m not going to warm you up. You’re going to feel me. Take this cock unprepared.”
My breath came fast and shallow, my mouth falling open as the anticipation that had been building turned sharp, coiling into something closer to fear.
He leaned back onto his heels, peeling his T-shirt off in one fluid motion and tossing it aside. Moonlight slipped through the trees, casting silver over his skin, his rippling muscles, and those dark inked tattoos.
Here, in the wild, he looked even more imposing.
More dangerous.
My heart stuttered, betraying me. I clenched my jaw, cursing under my breath.
“Like what you see?” he taunted.
“I don’t,” I spat through gritted teeth, even as my traitorous body pulsed—simultaneously aching for him and dreading the sharp, intense pain I knew was coming. I squeezed my thighs shut, a last, futile act of defiance.
His smirk twisted into something darker. Something primal.
A snarl.
“Open those fucking legs.”
A shudder ran through me as I obeyed, heat pooling low in my belly.
His fist stroked over his cock, slow, deliberate, his eyes never leaving mine.
“So… what do you say, Little Red?”
I furrowed my brow.
What was he asking?
His gaze flickered with amusement.
“You don’t remember the story?” he teased, his voice dripping with condescension. He stroked himself again, his grip tightening as he watched me.
And then it clicked. His twisted game, his fantasy.
I swallowed hard, forcing air into my lungs, but it wasn’t enough. My body felt too small, powerless. Like I was shrinking under his gaze.
But if this was what he wanted… I had to play along.
My pulse hammered, hard and erratic.
I wasn’t built for this.
For being hunted down, stalked… devoured.
I wasn’t built for him.
Tilting my chin up, I masked the tremor in my voice.
“Oh my, what a big cock you have.”
It was flat, deadpan. Accompanied by a pointed eye-roll, meant to bite, to tell him how ridiculous he was.
But my voice came out softer than I’d intended.
Weaker.
He heard it. Knew the mockery was a lie.
Because he knew exactly what he was.
Enormous.
He could split me open on the first thrust, make me feel him for days.
He knew exactly how deep the ache would go.
And worse—he knew I craved it.
He read my body like a book.
His low groan rumbled through the night air, thick with satisfaction.
“All the better to fuck you with.”
And then–
He drove inside me.
All at once. A single brutal thrust, burying himself to the hilt.
A strangled gasp tore from my throat as he forced me open, stretching, burning. I arched, my body caught between resistance and surrender. It was too much. Too deep, too fast.
“Fuck!” I cried out, my fingers clawing into the dirt. He hadn’t prepared me. Hadn’t pleasured me first. Hadn’t earned this.
And yet—
I was wet.
Undeniably.
I felt it in the way he moved, the slick relentless stretch as he filled me completely.
“Uuugh fuck,” he groaned, pumping into me.
My walls stretched as I took him, my legs spread as wide as I could with my pants around my ankles. I barely registered the cold ground at my back, the twigs and leaves tangling in my hair. I could only feel him—his thick, throbbing cock fucking me hard.
He pulled out abruptly, gripping himself.
“On your knees, Little Red,” he hissed. “I’m going to fuck you like an animal.”
I scrambled onto my knees, shaking as I waited for his intrusion. I felt his hands spread my ass cheeks as he pushed into my pussy, the sensation searing and deep all at once.
“Ugh,” I moaned, reaching back and pressing a hand against his thigh, trying desperately to stop him from going deeper.
“You feel even bigger from behind.” My breath hitched. “It hurts.”
“You’ll get used to it,” was his gruff reply as he grabbed my wrist, prying it away, allowing him to plunge further.
“Fuuuuck!” I screamed, the sensation crashing through me. The ache was raw, brutal.
But the pleasure—God, that stretch—had me reeling.
“Fuck, this pussy feels amazing,” he groaned, “So fucking tight, so warm around my cock.”
I arched into him, helpless against the sensation. Dammit, he was right—I was getting used to it. His huge cock spread me impossibly wide, filling the deepest parts of me.
And then—
His fingers found my clit.
A spark of electric heat shot through me, sharp and dizzying.
“Adrian!” I gasped, as he circled my clit, pumping his cock inside me in perfect time. I screamed, a cry ripping from my lungs as the orgasm shattered me, my body clenching, writhing.
At the same time, I felt his thumb press against my asshole, teasing, circling—before he plunged it inside. A sharp, punishing pain invaded my senses, colliding with the pleasure ripping through me.
“Fuuuck!” I cried out, the mix of sensations too much, too intense.
“Mmmm, that’s it. Take it, baby,” he murmured, his thumb pressing deeper. “Take my cock in your pussy, my thumb in your ass.”
I choked on a gasp.
“Take it out!” I pleaded, my muscles tensing, clenching around him in protest.
But he didn’t. He held his thumb there like a warning—a prelude of what was to come.
“Better get used to it,” he whispered, his breath hot against my ear. “You know what’s next.”
I whimpered, the aftershocks of my orgasm leaving me weak and exhausted. I needed this to be over. It was too much, too intense.
“Are you fucking done yet?” I gasped, my voice raw. I’d come. I wanted to go home. To be cozy in my bed—not fucked hard in the woods.
But he wasn’t done.
I felt him pull out, one hand still on my hip, squeezing my flesh. The other, stroking himself.
Before I could move, he flipped me onto my back again, pinning me beneath him.
“I was waiting for you,” he said, a mocking smile at his lips as he pumped his cock slowly. “Ladies first.”
I lay still beneath him, waiting. I knew what was coming. His release. Spilling into my mouth. Without thinking, my lips parted—ready, accepting.
A quiet chuckle rumbled from his chest.
“Good little slut.” The look in his eyes sent a thrill through me—dark, admiring. He leaned closer, voice low, indulgent.
“Here you go, Little Red.”
A sharp stroke, a ragged groan.
“Here’s your reward for being such a good girl,”
His groan tore through the night air as he spilled his cum all over my mouth, some landing on my tongue, the rest dripping down my chin and neck. It was messy but undeniably hot. I felt exactly like what he’d called me. His little slut.
“Ugh, Scarlett,” he moaned, shoving his cock past my lips. I closed around him instinctively, draining every last drop.
Just like I knew he wanted.
He pulled back slowly, admiring me.
“God I love seeing you covered in my cum,” he murmured.
A cold breeze rustled through the trees, lifting the leaves and making me shiver beneath him.
“Baby,” he whispered, pulling me towards him, holding me tight. I couldn’t stop shivering, the rush of excitement and exertion that had kept me warm now gone. Winter’s chill settled into my skin as I sat there, covered in his liquid.
He reached for his shirt, using it to wipe the cum from my face, my neck, before pulling me close, wrapping his arms around me. His heartbeat echoed in my ear, steady and grounding. I let myself sink into his warmth, into the strange comfort of his hold.
We stayed like that, silent, breathing in tandem.
“Let’s get you home,” he murmured, zipping up my hoodie, then reaching for his own.
He wrapped the oversized fabric around me like a cape, his hands rubbing my arms, trying to chase away the cold.
“Baby, you’re freezing.”
He stood, pulling his shirt over his head before helping me up.
The woods had gone completely dark now, but the full moon filtered through breaks in the trees, casting long shadows across the path. I glanced toward the trail. I’d been so close. Just one second quicker, and I might have made it. But is that what I really wanted? My mind screamed yes, but my body betrayed me. Here, in the woods, being taken and dominated by him—it had felt like my body’s deepest craving.
Whichever it was, enough was enough. I needed to go home. Alone.
I still have my dignity.
“Goonight,” I whispered, turning to face him. His expression darkened in the moonlight, a dangerous, lethal shadow falling over his face.
“Let me take you home,” he said through gritted teeth. It wasn’t a request.
“I don’t want you,” I said, tears stinging my eyes.
The reality of what had just happened crashed down on me all at once. He’d chased me down, toyed with me, like a cat playing with its prey. Let me think I had a chance at escaping, only to capture me and make me submit.
“You had your way with me,” I said, my voice trembling as my tears fell freely. “I told you to leave me alone, but you didn’t. You won’t listen to me.” I took a deep breath, summoning my courage.
“Don’t bother me again, or I’ll report you.”
For a fleeting moment, something flickered in his eyes—hurt, maybe or doubt. But it was gone in an instant, replaced by a dark, possessive gleam.
“You won’t report shit,” he said, voice low and venomous.
He stepped closer, his hand sliding around my waist, fingers tracing the curve of my back before dipping lower.
“You fucking want this just as much as I do,” he sneered, his face inches from mine.
“Your pussy clenched so tight around my cock when you came. Like you were trying to keep me inside you. Like you never wanted me to leave.”
I swallowed hard.
His hand cupped my ass, squeezing—firm and possessive. I bit my lip, refusing to let the sound slip free.
“You are mine. And I can have you whenever I want,” he growled. He leaned closer, his heat, his dominance suffocating.
“I was going to go easy on you today, you know.”
His lips brushed my ear, sending a shiver down my spine.
“I was going to surprise you. Take you on a nice date. Romance you.” He scoffed, shaking his head. Like the idea was ridiculous. Like I’d ruined it.
“But since you keep fighting it—fighting me—it’s time you learned your place.”
His jaw tightened, fist clenching at his sides, his control hanging by a thread. His eyes burned into mine, dark and merciless.
“You’ll know who owns you after tonight,” he said, his voice a low, dangerous promise.